EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES CELL GUJARAT UNIVERSITY Preamble: Being the oldest & largest university of Gujarat, it is imperative that Gujarat University to be the torch bearer of creating awareness of the concept of equal opportunities to one and all; irrespective of gender, ability, socio‐economic background, caste, religion or language; on the lines of UGC Guideline. India is a country with lots of diversity and also inequalities. Hence it is all the more important to have proper policies & institutional mechanisms to promote inclusive growth. With this in mind, it is proposed to establish a nodal cell for creative interaction & promotion of equality among all the stakeholders of the society; mainly the students, staff and faculty of Gujarat University. It is an effort to educate, counsel & empower the nation builders to realize their potential & bring them to the mainstream of society; which will enable them to contribute to the work place, community & the nation at large. The basic aim of EOC, GU is to ensure that persons ( students, staff, faculties or the community) from various diverse backgrounds of community, religion, region, gender or ability are not deprived of their rightful opportunities. They have access to all pedagogical and extra‐curricular resources; which will promote inclusivity and harmony. Objective: 1. To promote diversity and inclusive practices on the campus & provide the disadvantaged groups with adequate opportunities. 2. To raise awareness regarding issues amongst the stakeholders & help to create an enabling & non discriminative environment for the disadvantaged groups in the institution of higher education. 3. To ensure implementation of policies, schemes and programmes for the inclusion of underprivileged groups within the framework of policies and guidelines of the GOI/UGC Target Group: EOC works for affirmative action for the deprived sections such as persons from SC, ST, OBC ( Non‐
creamy layer) categories, persons from religious & language minorities, differently‐abled persons and Women. Administration: Chairperson, Equal Opportunity Cell Dr. M N Patel ( Hon. VC, GU) Registrar, Gujarat University Dr. H C Patel Co‐ordinator, Equal opportunity cell Dr ( Mrs. )Sujatha Sony Onattu Assisted by Supportive Staff & Student Volunteers Advisory committee ( to meet twice a year) 1)
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Dr M.N Patel (Honourable VC, GU‐ as the chairperson) Dr H.C Patel (Hon. Registrar‐ GU) Dr Sujatha Sony Onattu (Co‐ordinator‐EOC & Member secretary) Mrs Vaishali Padhiyar (Development Officer‐ GU) Dr Purvi Pokhariyal (Legal Expert & Director‐ Institute of law, Nirma Univ.) Dr Leena Mehta (Social Work expert, Assoc. Professor‐ MSW Dept., MS Univ.) Dr Chetna Desai (Medical Expert & Professor, BJ Medical College, GU) Dr Biju Varkkey ( HR & IR Expert, Professor‐ IIM Ahmedabad) Dr Nita Shah ( Professor, GU) Dr J C Patel ( Professor, GU) Dr. Chandrika Raval ( Professor, GU) Dr Yogesh Parekh (I/c Librarian G.U) Facilities:‐ 1)
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Office & Infrastructure Library & Documentation Centre Newspaper, journals & magazines Classrooms, Meetings & Training Venues Vision: 1. Focusing on overall personality and skill development so as to ensure enhancing their employability. 2. Inclusive growth for everyone by encompassing everyone into the mainstream of society. 3. Providing personal counselling and career guidance. 4. Awareness building and sensitization regarding discrimination on various grounds. 5. Co‐ordinating and working with other statutory bodies of the university such as Women’s Development Cell, Remedial Coaching Cell, The Enabling Committee for persons with disabilities, Jan Shikhshan Sansthaan, Academic Staff College, Employment Bureau as well as student unions and committees for extracurricular activities; for augmenting their own infrastructure and resources for the benefit of persons from aforesaid categories. Activities: Major 3 types of activities are conducted under the Cell 1. Help to develop into better persons and citizens by training, coaching and capacity building programmes, Counselling and helping them to deal with their personal problems. 2. Making them Industry ready and assist them entering the job market. 3. Orientation in Community development and social harmony. The programmes conducted under the above Cell are as follows: Section: 1 Personality, communication and skill development, including the much required modern skills & ICT component. This includes the activities like applied computer training for students and Research Scholars of GU 1. Computer literacy for the students of GU as well as the underprivileged & the unemployed youth and children of the locality. 2. Basic literacy and education through student volunteers for the poor children of the locality under “Joy of Giving” Programme. 3. Training programme on soft skills and personality development for the students and group D employees of GU. 4. Training on Hospitality management to group D employees of GU. 5. Training sessions on Time management for students and Research scholars of GU. 6. Counselling them on personal and psychological problems. 7. Enhancing their life skills and work life balance for students, staff and faculties of GU 8. Awareness about overall Well‐being, health issues and minimising health risks. Section: 2 1. Pre‐placement training, corporate preparedness, facing the GDPI, Career counselling & advise, Placement information, Industry‐Institute linkage for students and Research Scholars of GU. 2. Business English and Correspondence skills for the students of GU. 3. Coaching (15 to 20 days module) for UGC Net ,Civil services exams for students and research scholars of GU‐ one time programme) Section: 3 1. Health awareness and medical camps for students, staff and resident community of nearby area. ( on reproductive health and AIDS awareness, cancer awareness programs, Nutrition and hygiene awareness, Eye check‐ ups, Digestive Health and Lifestyle diseases, etc.) 2. Workshop on Women Empowerment for students, staff, faculties of GU. 3. National workshops, seminars or conferences on current and relevant issues by availing special funds from UGC, ICSSR, National Human rights commission, National Commission for women, etc. 4. Workshops on human rights for students and Research scholars of GU. 5. Workshops on Legal Education and Equality, Awareness about Legal reddressal and conflict resolution. 6. Special Lecture series by Eminent Personalities and Academicians on subjects like Gender issues, Equality and Discrimination, Differently abled and their problems, etc. 7. Coaching & Tuition classes for deprived children & youth by student Volunteers. 8. A special academic Help Centre for students of GU, who need extra help with their syllabi and studies; which can be run by outstanding student volunteers. 9. Socio‐Cultural interactive activities for the target group. Upcoming Events of EOC: 1. Inauguration and awareness programme of Equal Opportunity Cell, GU. In Sept. 2015. 2. Special Lecture Series. 3. Personality Development and Soft skill training programme for students & Research Scholars of GU. Press Release: 1. EOC web launch‐ link in GU website Photo Gallery: Students/ staff/ faculties Registration: Contact us: Dr. Sujatha Sony Onattu‐ Co‐ordinator EOC, EOC Office, Room No. 25/14, School of Social Sciences Gujarat University Phone: 079‐26302385 Ext. 38/39 E‐mail: [email protected] Notice: EOC welcomes the student volunteers for its various activities. Those interested may contact coordinator EOC at EOC office, at the above mentioned address, during office hours along with their latest C.V and a write up on their objective.